Novak Djokovic to miss the upcoming Madrid Open with unspecified issue, just a month out from French Open

Updated 22/04/2023 at 14:01 GMT

After losing in the quarter-finals of the Banja Luka Open on Friday, it's another setback for Novak Djokovic, who will now not be competing at the Madrid Open. A statement from the tournament wished the Serbian 22-time Grand Slam winner "a speedy recovery", without specifying the reason for his withdrawal. Rafael Nadal will also be missing in Madrid, having still not recovered from his injury.

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Novak Djokovic is to miss the upcoming Madrid Open through injury, just a month out from the French Open.

Tournament organisers released the news on social media and wished the Serbian "a speedy recovery", without specifying the reason for his withdrawal.

The clay-court event in the Spanish capital will now be without both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, the latter announcing his own withdrawal on Thursday.

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The French Open at Roland-Garros - the next chance for Djokovic and Nadal to add to their major tallies of 22 each - begins on May 28 in Paris.

Djokovic is yet to comment publicly on his decision to miss Madrid.

The main draw for the event runs from April 26 to May 7.

Djokovic began the 2023 season with a bang, winning the Adelaide 1 tournament and then backing that up by claiming his 22nd major at the Australian Open, despite playing with a hamstring problem.

But then began a difficult period for the 35-year-old.

He played in Dubai - losing in the semi-finals to Daniil Medvedev - before missing the 'Sunshine Swing' Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami due to not being allowed into the US as a result of his Covid-19 vaccination status.

After a break of six weeks, Djokovic then returned to action in Monte Carlo, but lost in the second round to Lorenzo Musetti, talking afterwards about how he was feeling "terrible".

The Serbian then decamped to Bosnia and the Banja Luka ATP 250 event, but spoke in the build-up about the injury problems he was dealing with.

“My elbow is not in an ideal shape but good enough to be ready for the first match." Djokovic said.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia salutes to the fans after the match against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia at the ATP 250 Srpska Open 2023 Quarterfinal match at National Tennis Center on April 21, 2023 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Image credit: Getty Images

He won that first match against Luca Van Assche, but then was knocked out by compatriot Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-finals.

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